BRUSSELS. Sept 8 (Interfax) - The Black Sea grain deal has facilitated the shipment of tens of millions of tonnes of grain to various parts of the world to feed local populations and reduce food prices, and the European Union is therefore working on bringing Russia back to the deal, Peter Stano, spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell, said on Friday.
"While the illegal blockage [...] continues, we are of course supporting the UN and Turkey and everyone who is and wants to participate [in this effort] to bring Russia back to the Black Sea grain deal," Stano said at a press briefing in Brussels.
Asked whether the European Commission believes access for Russian ships carrying food or fertilizers to EU ports should be facilitated and whether the foreign assets of the corresponding Russian producers should be unblocked, Stano replied that the EU supported all partners involved to find ways for Russia to return to the deal.
Until this happens, "the European Union will be working hard with Ukraine, with partners to find alternative ways, we already started this with the 'solidarity lanes' and we will continue doing so," he said.
The grain deal was concluded in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Two documents were signed by the UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine to open a grain corridor from three Ukrainian ports (Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny) and to lift restrictions on Russian food and fertilizer exports. The initiative was extended for 120 days in November 2022 until March 2023, and two two-month extensions followed. Moscow forwarded its objections to the grain deal's further extension to Ankara, Kiev and the UN on July 17.